Walter j



(No Model.)

W. J. WESTAWAY. STRIKING BAG SUPPORT.

Patented Feb. 18, 1896.

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WALTER J. WVESTAIVAY, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO IVALTER C. \VESTAWVAY AND EDIVARD H. SLEIGHT, OF SAME PLACE,

STRIKING-BAG SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,756, dated February 18, 1896. Application filed November 18, 1895. Serial No. 569,854. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J. WEsTAwAY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Moline, county of Rock Island, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Contact Devices for Striking-Bags, of which the followingis a description.

Strikingbags are usually suspended from above and as they are struck bound upward, striking the ceiling or some surface above and rebound, when they are again struck, &c. It is common to suspend the bag from the center of a horizontal ring of wood or other material and secure the ring to the wall at proper height. The rope or cord to which the bag is attached is in length about the radius of the ring, so that the bag strikes the ring and rebounds. The ring has to be firmly fixed in position, as the bag must strike it with considerable force in order to rebound with sufficient speed to serve the purposes intended. The difficulty met with is in the fact that the persons exercising in this manner vary in height, and consequently the bag should be adjusted in height to accommodate them. It is not practical to lengthen or shorten the supporting-line, as in such case it will not be equal in length to a radius of the ring, and the bag will not strike the ring and be returned as described.

My invention is of this class of devices and has for its object the obviating of the diificulty above mentioned.

To this end it consists broadly in a device of the kind described, which is Vertically adjusted for the purposes named.

It also consists in the peculiar and novel construction and combination of parts herein described and particularly set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference-letters indicate like or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a front view of my improvement in position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, slightly modified. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the same. Fig. 4 is a partial horizontal section in line 2 2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side view of the preferred tightening device, and Fig. 6 is a horizontal section showing the same in position.

In the drawings, A A represent cleats of wood or other material which may be firmly secured to the side wall of a room. B B are two vertical bars, which may be of gas-pipe, which are firmly secured to the two cleats A A in any preferred way.

0 O are two castings, each adapted to encircle and be vertically movable on the bars B B, and may be secured at an adjusted height in any preferred manner.

D D are two supports secured to the castings O and extending horizontally, preferably coming close together at d. A cross-piece E connects the two and marks the center of the ring F, which is firmly secured to the supports D D. The striking-bag G is suspended from the 'center piece E by a cord H, which is substantially equal in length to a radius of the ring F.

It is obvious that the ring and its supports may be readily raised or lowered upon the bars and fixed at any desired point, and that consequently the device is adjustable without difficulty to a person of any height, and the satisfactory results retained.

The preferred manner of securing the device to the bars B is as follows: The castings O are provided with parts 0 0 through which the bars B extend, and between the two is a lug or boss 0, extending toward the bar B. Loosely pivoted upon the boss 0 is a lever K, which has a cam-shaped head 7v. As the end of the lever is raised, the casting 0 may loosely move on the bar B, but when the end of the lever is pressed downward the cam- I faces jam against the casting O and the bar B (see Fig. 6) and tightly lock the two together.

The mode of operation is as follows: When it is desired to raise or lower the device to adjust it, the operator grasps the ends of the levers K K and raises them. At the same time he raises or lowers the entire device to the desired point. WVhen the desired point is reached he lets the ends of the levers drop and, seizing them, presses them down till the parts are firmly looked as described.

As an additional means for firmly supporting the ring, the modification shown in dot lines in Figs. 2 and 3 may be used. In such case the casting O is extended upward a sulficient distance to furnish a seat for the brace M, which extends therefrom to the ring F to a point outside the support I), thus additionally bracing the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A contact device for striking-bags, consisting of vertical bars adapted to be secured to the wall, in combination with castings loosely moving upon said bars and adapted to be adjustably secured thereto, supports extending horizontally from said castings, a contactring secured to the supports and means for suspending the bag from the center of the ring, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the kind described, the contact-ring and its supports, and the vertical bars, in combination with the castings connecting the two and a lever provided with a cam-head extending between the castings and the bars, whereby the casting" may be verti cally adjusted upon the bars and locked in such position, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In a device of the kind described, the contact-ring and its supports and the vertical bars, in combination with the castings adj ustably connecting the two, and a brace extending from each side of the ring to the extended end of the castings, substantially as \VAL'IER J IVESTAXVAY.

\Vitnesses:

A. M. BELFIELD, L. A. GARDINER. 

